Wheel and axle.



No. 641,427. v Patented Jan. l6, l900..

A. M. ALLEN.

WHEEL AND AXLE.

(Application filed. July 13, 1897.), (No Model.) 3 Shaets-$he6t l.

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No. 64!,42'7. Patented Ian. l6, I900.

- A. M. ALLEN.

WHEEL AND AXLE.

(Application filed July 13, 1897.)

(No Modgl.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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Nrrnn STATES ARTHUR H. ALLEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

WHEEL AND AXLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 641,427, dated January16, 1900.

Application filed July 13, 1897. Serial lilo. 644,470. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR M. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of New York, (West New Brighton,) Richmond county, New York,have invented a new and useful Improvement inWheels and Axles, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to such improvements in vehicle wheels and axles aswill make them self-centering and frictionless and provide them withgreat elasticity and yet a durable tread. They may be made with the axlefixed either in the frame or wheel. I attain these objects by themechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 isa side elevation of the wheel and axle. Fig. 2 is the plan ofspider-pulley S Fig. 3 is a section of spider-pulley and wheel-hub. Fig.4: is a section of part of the wheel on the line at or; in Fig. 1 andparts of frame F. Fig. 5 is a side view of oblique brace 0. Fig. 6 is aside view of eyebar or spoke S. Figs. 7 and S are sections of variationsin the tire. Fig. 9 is a plan of the tread, showing dimples. Fig. 10 isa section of hub H and bent axle-cranks G. Fig. 11 is a top view of oneaxle-crank O and hub-ring R Fig. 12 is a side view of guide-plate O inframe F and under axle O or the axle part of the axlecrank 0.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

\Vhen fixed in the frame, the axle is tubular, threaded inside of theends, and bolted between its frame sides. Two V-shaped collars are fixedon this axle,on which six grooved wheels run,which are mounted onprojections from the sides of the hub, (three on each side,) thussupporting the wheel with minimum friction. It the axle is to be fixedin 7 the wheel, it is in two parts, each fastened on ed to the oppositeends of tubes, and the three pairs of grooved wheels mounted on sleeveson the bolts outside the rings inclose and revolve on the axle. The rimis similar, with shorter tubes and lighter rings.

Spokes or eyebars, which are exact duplioates, connect the hub and rim,being arranged on the bolts between the tubes and rings. Two or morepairs of longer eyebars or braces, arranged obliquely and fitted withturnbuckles, make the spokes taut tangentially. On the outside edges ofa third and larger pair of light fiat rings, with their tubes and bolts,the metal tread is fastened, the rings keeping it circular under theload. This tread and rings may be rolled into one piece, likechannel-iron, forming a tire guttered inward. The tread is slightlyarched to serve as a narrow tread for hard roads and a wide tread forsoft ones and to allow the wheel to lean over on curves. The tubes inthe tire and rim have projections to enter holes in an elastic rubbersuspension-strap, which passes alternately over the tire-tubes and underthe rim-tubes, suspending the Wheel and protecting it from shocks. For

adjustment or wear of the grooved wheels one sleeve on each side of thehub is made eccentrio.

The axle-collars need no lubricant, and one greasing of the groovedwheel studs or sleeves will serve for the life of the wheel.

In the drawings, axle A (see Fig. 4) is a tube and fixed in frame F bybolts B Two V- shaped collars A are fixed thereon to retain the wheel inposition sidewise and to lessen friction. Rings R tubes P and bolts 13(see Fig. 4.) make hub H. Rings R tubes P and bolts 13 (see Fig. 4) makerim R. Tire T is composed of arch-tread T side rings R tubes P, andbolts B. (See Fig. 4.) On the face of the tread (see Figs. 9 and 4) aredimples T three-fourths of an inch in diameter and three-eighths of aninch deep for grip on soft hilly roads, instead of spikes. On the sidesof tubes P and P are projections P 1 (see Fig. 4,) which engage in holesin elastic flat rubber strap W (see Figs. 1 and 4) and retain it inposition. With these projections and tubes leather straps or spiralmetal springs may be used; but the rubber strap is preferable. Afterlaying strap W inside of rim R hub H is hung inside of rim R by spokes S(see Figs. 1 and 6) and drawn tangentially tight by oblique braces O andtheir turnbuckles X (see Figs. 1, 4, and 5) till the wheel is rigid.Then alternate pairs of holes in strap W are placed over projections Pin rim-tubes P (see Fig. 4) and the elastic loops passed outside. Tire Tis then placed over all and each tire-tube P removed in turn, an elasticloop with two holes stretched on the projections P and the tube Prebolted, whereby the wheel is hung in the rim. When the axle is fixedin the frame, three pairs of bolts B, which are longer than the others,support sleeves G (See Figs. 4 and 1.) On these sleeves grooved wheels Gare mounted, (see Figs. 4 and 1,) their grooves engaging the V- shapedcollars A on axle A and supporting the road-wheel thereby sidewise inthe frame. One sleeve G on each side is eccentric (see Fig. 1) for exactadjustment and wear before looking bolts B and washer G The strap Wappears in my patent of May 22, 1883; but herein an improved connectionto the rim and tire is shown.

The wheel is now ready to be revolved, and for connection todriving-gear a spider S composed of a pulley or gear S (see Figs. 2 and3,) is secured by bolts B through lugs S between the three groovedwheels to the side of one hub-ring R whereby when the wheel turns on afixed axle it will be ready for the driving connection.

For an axle fixed in the wheel this construction is modified as follows:Two half-axles O are bolted by spread ends and bolts B to the hub-ringsR (see Figs. 10 and 11) and their ends offset, so as to reach the wheelcenterline. A grooved wheel G and stud S and collar A are arrangedoutside of each frame (see Figs. 10 and 1.1) and the guide-plate (3 setin the frame under the axle. The part of the axle 0 near the hub thenserves as a crank-pin to be used for propulsion in place of the spider Sused when the axle is fixed in the frame.

This wheel, as shown and described, is practically frictionless, needsno lubricant, may be made as elastic as desired, has a tread as durableas any wagon, and is waterproof.

What I claim as new, and am desirous of securing by Letters Patent, is

1. In a Vehiclewheel, two pairs of adjacent flat rings of diiferentdiameters, secured by bolt connections, and serving for the hub and rimrespectively, in combination with eyebars arranged for spokes ontransverse pivots in the rings.

2. In a vehicle-wheel, a hub and a rim, con nected by eyebars forspokes, and provided with oblique adjustable braces, between the hub andrim for tangential tension.

3. The hub H rim P and spokes S in combination with oblique braces O andmeans to adjust their tension.

4. In a vehicle-Wheel, an axle with collars fixed thereon, incombination with grooved Wheels mounted, either in the frame, or onextensions from the sides of the hub, and cooperating with theaxle-collars to support the frame, and reduce friction.

5. In a vehicle-wheel, a rigid metallic tire, composed of a metallictread arranged over, and secured to, the edge of a flat metallic ring,to independently maintain the true circular shape,in combination with aroad-wheel rim, and an elastic connection thereto.

6. In a vehicle-wheel, two fiat rings with one metallic tread, fixedtransversely on both outside edges, in combination with a roadwheel rim,and an elastic connection thereto.

7. In a vehicle-wheel, a metallic arch-tread with two flat ringssupporting it on their edges, and an elastic connection to the rim.

8. Tire T with tubes P in combination with elastic strap NV, and thebody of the wheel.

9. Tread T side rings R tube P with projections P and bolts B incombination with elastic strap W and the rim.

10. Elastic strap W, in combination with tube projections P ontire-tubes P and projections P on rim-tubes R 11. In a vehicle-wheel, anaxle with two collars fixed thereon, in combination with grooved wheelspivoted on projections from the hub ends, and arranged to run on thecollars to retain the wheel in position sidewise, and to reducefriction.

12. In a vehicle-wheel, a barrel-hub with three equidistant transverseprojections, on each end, and six wheels mounted thereon, which inclose,and rest on the axle between them.

13. In a vehicle-wheel, six grooved wheels G mounted on projections,three on each side of the hub, in combination with axle A, and collars A7 14:. In a vehicle-wheel, eccentric sleeve G in combination withgrooved wheel G and bolt B for exact adjustment of wheels G in collars A15. In a vehicle-wheel, ofiset axles 0 and hub H and means to securethem together.

16. Offset axles O, hub H and bolts 13 arranged in a vehicle-wheel asshown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signedmyname, in presence of two witnesses, this'27thday of May,

ARTHUR M. ALLEN.

' Witnesses:

ROBERT SOHELKENBACH, JAMES WEIR.

